Monthly Archives: May 1940

The Battle of Belgium is over, at least for my grandfather’s unit. While Allied troops continue to withdraw from Dunkirk (and in the end, more than 330.000 men will have been successfully evacuated) my grandfather and his Commanding Officer are … Continue reading →

The remains of the Belgian Army which were now located in the area southeast of the city of Bruges on the flat country side, the sea in their backs, had no further options – they could not free themselves, there … Continue reading →

The situation is now getting desperate for the Allied forces – the Daily Reports are providing the following information: “A Belgian peace negotiator shows with with XI. Corps, asking for a cease fire. We demanded unconditional surrender. No further details … Continue reading →

The guns are still in their firing positions at St. Louis (1), east of Courtrai. Their targets for the day (or rather the night and the day) are Lichtervelde (2) and Pittem (3). Their rounds are going straight into the … Continue reading →

Between Ghent and Courtrai, the Wehrmacht had managed to break the last defensive line of the Allied forces, the mass of seven Infantry Divisions has crossed the river Lys. Note: at that time, an Infanry Division roughly counted 18.000 men … Continue reading →

While there is nothing to note in my grand fathers diary, there are photos from their battery at Klijpe. That seems to be one of the guns, with the second one setup nearby… In the north, the Wehrmacht captured Terneuzen … Continue reading →

The Situation of the Army report for the Wehrmacht on the evening of May 22, 1940, reports severe resistance and fighting on the western banks of the Scheldt river between Tournai and Ghent. Around Ghent, the Belgian Army is defending … Continue reading →

The next day, May 21, 1940, the men of AR 84 are taking a first firing position, as it seems. Unfortunately, I cannot read the place’s name properly and/or I cannot locate a matching location on any of the maps. … Continue reading →

The front has moved to the west, significantly. The new front line is the Scheldt River, behind which the remains of the Belgian Army, some parts of the French Army in Belgium and the British Expeditionary Force had withdrawn. The … Continue reading →

Wherever my grandfather had been around the previous days, on the morning of May 19, he is on the road again, the men are relocating from Cras-Avernas to Chastre, north-north-west of Gembloux. But they would not leave Cras-Avernas without proper … Continue reading →